This book as a tribute to Princess Marsi Paribatra on the occasion of the first major exhibition of her work in Thailand.   Although the Princess has exhibited many times in France, her work is still little known to the Thai artistic community and general public, because she has spent so much of her life abroad.

    Princess Marsi has lived a rich life, which is full of contrasts. She went to school in Thailand, but later studied abroad, earning doctoral degrees at the University of Paris and University of Madrid. Later, the Princess began her career as an academic at university, but left the academic profession at the age 30 to train as an artist. Then, while she was born in a great palace in the capital of Thailand, she has lived as an artist for 40 years in a small quiet village, Annot, in France, surrounded by music, nature and animals, which have been her constant inspiration. This varied background has allowed her to assimilate both European and Thai cultures to create masterpieces of great uniqueness.

    As Princess Marsi's cousin, who is much younger than her, I regret that I did not have the opportunity to know Princess marsi well until her illness. However, I feel honoured that she has entrusted me with the establishment of the Marsi Foundation and the care of her paintings. Yet, the story of this book started many years ago when Princess Marsi met Michel Steve, an architect, who shared her interest in the fine arts and admired her work. As the Princess's friendship with Michel and Marie-Helene Steve blossomed, Princess Marsi asked Michel Steve to make an inventory of her paintings, so as to build a complete and unified picture of her life's work for posterity. To this end, the Princess discussed her recollections of the paintings with Michel for several years until her illness, so he is the person who understands her work most deeply. This is why the Marsi Foundation has invited Michel Steve to author this book on Princess Marsi's life-time works of art.

Princess Marsi, a Thai Princess born in Bangkok in 1931, has lived mainly in Europe, so she knows well the cultures of France, Italy and Spain. She received doctoral degrees from the University of Paris and University of Madrid. Highly talented in literature, history and music, she abandoned her career at university to devote herself to art.

She has exhibited her work continually since 1970, and has her own unique style, influenced both by the wisdom of the East, as well as a deep understanding of European artists. This work is the first analysis of Princess Marsi's paintings, which have now been brought to Bangkok at her request.